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What is in-car data usage?
Where has my in-car datagone?
Why is my in-car datainsufficient?
In-car systems refer to the in-vehicle infotainment products installed in the car’s central console. Some in-car systems have the main unit and screen integrated, while others have them separated. Using various in-car software through the system consumes a certain amount of data, similar to how smartphones operate. Typically, in-car data is provided for free by car manufacturers or available for purchase.
With the rise of smartphones, our cars have also begun to adapt to the changes brought by smart devices and smart living, evolving from CD and DVD players over a decade ago to today’s in-car entertainment systems, where in-car connectivity has almost become a standard feature.
During long waits, besides scrolling through their phones, many people prefer to comfortably lie in their cars and “use the in-car system”: watching series, listening to music, using WeChat, or even playing games on the large in-car LCD screen. The screen size is larger than that of a smartphone, the sound system is better, and there are numerous in-car apps available… what a joy! Of course, this is all contingent on having sufficient data. So, how is in-car data charged?
Traditional car manufacturers are more generous
Currently, in the market, most mainstream electric vehicle brands are focusing on “connected” new cars and have introduced data policies.
For example, Xpeng Motors currently offers 5GB/month of free data, with charges for any excess. Xpeng also provides an unlimited data plan, provided that the user opts for the Yuelong service.
Li Auto offers a free plan of 20GB/month, but it is limited to three years. NIO provides 8GB/month of free data, which can increase to 15GB/month if the user opts for the worry-free service.
As of now, Tesla still implements a free data policy. It is worth noting that in overseas markets, Tesla’s data fees have changed to a plan of $9.99/month.
Some car manufacturers have also introduced “lifetime free data”, but it should be noted that this package does not include entertainment data.
In comparison, traditional car manufacturers are more generous with their data policies. SAIC-GM has increased its free data from 24GB/year to 100GB/year. GAC Aion has gone even further, providing free data services that can be used not only for OTA upgrades and in-car navigation but also for entertainment.
Navigation is the “data killer”
How much data is needed for in-car usage in a month? We interviewed 15 car owners and found that the average usage is 7.9GB/month. The top four apps consuming the most data are navigation, music, OTA upgrades, and video. Is navigation really the “data killer”?
In a test on a city road from Pazhou to the airport, approximately 40 kilometers and taking about 1 hour, the testers simultaneously activated phone navigation and selected dynamic traffic mode to update road conditions in real-time. Throughout the test, the in-car navigation used 128MB of data, while the phone navigation only used 9MB.
Why is there such a large discrepancy? The key lies in the maps. The in-car navigation system has map accuracy at the decimeter level, and the system will download new map packages in real-time once detected.
Moreover, the number of users watching videos while parked is continuously increasing. Car owner Kervin often drives with his wife to the suburbs to watch movies in the car. Due to the large LCD screen inside the car, Kervin believes that ultra-high definition is necessary to ensure picture quality and effect, which naturally requires a lot of data.
How to check in-car data usage?
In-car data usage is recorded just like on a smartphone. If you have questions about your in-car data usage, you can check which applications have used data and how much data they have consumed on the in-car system. The specific steps to check are shown in the images below.
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Author: Liang Jing Editor: Zhao Yongli Reviewer: Wang Jing
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